Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli settlers uprooted 50 olive trees near the Palestinian village of Al-Maghayir, north of the city of Ramallah on Monday afternoon, according to Israeli radio.

Israel’s military believes the attack was a preemptive response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to reduce construction in West Bank settlements.

Netanyahu is expected to announce some curbs on settlement expansion later this week. On Monday, his government approved the construction of 500 new homes in the settlements, which are illegal under international law.

Last Thursday 150 olive trees were found uprooted in the same village, which lies near the unauthorized settler outpost of Nofe Yarden.

On Friday, clashes were reported in the area, when, according to settlers, Palestinians stormed the outpost and set fire to a mobile home. No one was reported injured.